Behind every successful team is a great pitching coach. No matter how talented a team’s pitching staff is, they won’t have success without the guidance of a terrific pitching coach. Since Matt Blake was hired in 2019, the Yankees’ pitching staff has been one of the best in baseball. Perhaps Blake’s greatest accomplishment has been turning around the careers of many previously struggling pitchers. The Yankees wouldn’t be having the success they’ve had without Matt Blake.
The Pitching Staff Needed To Be Fixed
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the 2019 season, the Yankees fired longtime pitching coach Larry Rothschild. While the Yankees won 103 games, the pitching staff struggled. As a staff, Yankee pitchers gave up a combined 248 home runs. The only teams that surrendered more long balls were the Orioles, Rockies, Angels, Mariners, Phillies, and Tigers. Four out of five of their starter pitchers surrendered 27 or more homers. The lowest ERA in the starting rotation belonged to James Paxton at 3.82. The bullpen also blew 28 saves, which was tied for eight worst in baseball with the Cubs.
He Was An Outside The Box Hire
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter a short search, the Yankees named then-34-year-old Matt Blake as their new pitching. This was a bit of a shock to Yankees fans as he hadn’t been mentioned as a candidate for any job. Blake wasn’t a stranger to the team as he was previously an associate scout for the Yankees from 2010-2015. Blake had never pitched at the professional level. His only experience as a pitching coach was at the high school level and in the Cape Cod League. Before being named the Yankees pitching coach, Blake had been working in player development for the then-Cleveland Indians.
Yankee Pitchers Have Thrived Under Matt Blake
Embed from Getty ImagesSince being named the pitching coach, Yankee pitchers have flourished under his tutelage. Last season, Gerrit Cole won a Cy Young award. Then Yankee starter Domingo German even threw a perfect game in 2023 as well. In three full seasons, the Yankees pitching staff has never finished outside the top ten in ERA. They also have consistently finished in the top half of the league in limiting the long ball.
He Has Turned Struggling Pitchers Careers Around
Embed from Getty ImagesA big strength of Matt Blake is his ability to turn previously struggling pitchers into highly productive players. Before being traded to the Yankees, Clay Holmes’s career was essentially on life support. Blake helped fix Holmes’s career, he has since become the Yankees closer and appeared in one all-star game. Ian Hamilton had missed two seasons due to injuries and was already on his third team in as many years. Hamilton has since become one of the Yankees’ most trusted relievers out of the bullpen. He’s done a great job so far at helping Carlos Rodon rebound from his awful first season in the Bronx.
The 2024 Season Might Be His Best Work Yet
Perhaps Blake’s best coaching job has been happening this season. Despite key pitchers Gerrit Cole, Tommy Kahnle, and Scott Effross being on the injured list, the pitching staff hasn’t taken a step back. They are a big reason why the Yankees have been having a superb start to the season. As a staff, the New York Yankees are currently ranked inside the top ten in many major pitching categories. He’s been instrumental in getting great outings from Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Luis Gil.
Matt Blake Is Showing He Can Develop Young Pitchers As Well
Embed from Getty ImagesThis season, Matt Blake has been able to show just how good he is at developing young pitchers. Luis Gil wasn’t supposed to be a part of the Yankees rotation plans until Gerrit Cole went down with an injury. Despite Gil losing two seasons to injury, Blake has been able to help him recapture what made him a promising prospect in 2021. Not only is it going to be difficult to pick who to move to the bullpen after Cole returns, but Gil has possibly played himself into a role for the rest of the year.
Matt Blake Is A Big Reason For The Yankees Success
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s a surprise that pitching coaches don’t get awards like a team’s manager. After all, a team doesn’t have success without a good pitching coach. Matt Blake’s stellar work fixing the pitching staff is a big reason why the Yankees are competitive every season. Given the number of injuries the pitching staff has suffered early on, this season is arguably his best work yet. He’s been able to get the most out of just about every healthy pitcher that is available. Given how successful Yankee pitchers have been under his tutelage; Matt Blake is the pitching coach teams dream of having.
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